Stories stuck in pending hell

[Jemeralddragoon]

I submitted a story and a story edit back on 11/23. They have both been stuck in "Pending" since. At first they were yellow Pending and now they're grey Pending. I reached out to Laurel but I haven't heard anything back. I read that I shouldn't resubmit them because they'll essentially end up at the end of the queue, but at this point I think my submissions got lost in the weeds. Should I just bite the bullet and resubmit?

 

[Britva415]

I submitted a story and a story edit back on 11/23. They have both been stuck in "Pending" since. At first they were yellow Pending and now they're grey Pending. I reached out to Laurel but I haven't heard anything back. I read that I shouldn't resubmit them because they'll essentially end up at the end of the queue, but at this point I think my submissions got lost in the weeds. Should I just bite the bullet and resubmit?

I wouldn’t. 11/23 was only two weeks ago. That and longer are not out if the ordinary, lately.

 

[Jemeralddragoon]

Fair enough. I'm just concerned about not putting out anything new for so long for my few followers.

 

[Lifestyle66]

Fair enough. I'm just concerned about not putting out anything new for so long for my few followers.

You only have ONE story published. It takes time.

I've posted 64 stories so far over about 4 years. And MOST of those are to one category, Loving Wives. I don't include underage, animals, almost NO violence. I write for "extra-marital FUN and sharing", and I think they now know that. And Loving Wives category is one which receives the most views/clicks.

Until the reviewers get to know you, they need to read your story to determine if you are trying to subvert their rules. There are authors who do try to push the limits of forbidden underage, bestiality, or violent rape. So, until the reviewers become comfortable with your writing style and the categories you're writing, it takes them time. And they probably prioritize their time on first speed reading known authors, and for the stories for categories which draw the most views (after all, clicks on stories is their metric of their site success to sell ad space.)

So, the more you write and publish, and the more consistent you write, the faster your stories will be approved. Mine are sometimes approved within 36 hours, PROBABLY because I'm very predictable.

 

[Jemeralddragoon]

You only have ONE story published. It takes time.

I've posted 64 stories so far over about 4 years. And MOST of those are to one category, Loving Wives. I don't include underage, animals, almost NO violence. I write for "extra-marital FUN and sharing", and I think they now know that. And Loving Wives category is one which receives the most views/clicks.

Until the reviewers get to know you, they need to read your story to determine if you are trying to subvert their rules. There are authors who do try to push the limits of forbidden underage, bestiality, or violent rape. So, until the reviewers become comfortable with your writing style and the categories you're writing, it takes them time. And they probably prioritize their time on first speed reading known authors, and for the stories for categories which draw the most views (after all, clicks on stories is their metric of their site success to sell ad space.)

So, the more you write and publish, and the more consistent you write, the faster your stories will be approved. Mine are sometimes approved within 36 hours, PROBABLY because I'm very predictable.

Thank you for your reply. I'm not worried about them not being approved, I'm concerned about it being so long without any seeming updates. When I published my first story, I heard back almost immediately about it being sent back and things that needed changed about it before it could be accepted. I made those changes, sent it back, and almost immediately got it sent back for further revisions, etc. I know this process can take a while, but it's concerning when nothing is happening for multiple weeks and I have no way of telling if something happened during the submission process and my submissions aren't just sitting in some limbo.

 

[LittleTitLover]

Thank you for your reply. I'm not worried about them not being approved, I'm concerned about it being so long without any seeming updates. When I published my first story, I heard back almost immediately about it being sent back and things that needed changed about it before it could be accepted. I made those changes, sent it back, and almost immediately got it sent back for further revisions, etc. I know this process can take a while, but it's concerning when nothing is happening for multiple weeks and I have no way of telling if something happened during the submission process and my submissions aren't just sitting in some limbo.

I submitted one today too. Also my first, we'll see how long it takes.

 

[Jemeralddragoon]

I submitted one today too. Also my first, we'll see how long it takes.

Oh nice! Congratulations. It took me years to get comfortable with the idea of submitting something and letting other people read it. I hope it goes well for you.

 

[LittleTitLover]

Oh nice! Congratulations. It took me years to get comfortable with the idea of submitting something and letting other people read it. I hope it goes well for you.

Thank you so much! I wish you best luck with yours too

 

[NordicNight]

Following this thread; I've also had the same observations - my first two stories got published pretty quickly. They were chapter 3 and 4 in myy mind, although I hadn't really organized them nunerically yet, I wanted to use the series function for that. But now chapter 1 and 2 are forever stuck it seems. They have had about two weeks of pending time each, then I put them back in draft and had a volunteer editor go over them (thanks @Todger65!), and then put chapter 1 with changes back on submitted and pending, where it's been for 3 days (cumulative 17 days then). Maybe I'm just out of tune with expectations because of the speed of chapter 3 and 4 submission.

Also the real reason I worry about this is because chapter 3 seems so cold without the buildup from 1 and 2 - it's almost unbearable to see readers not get that buildup now. Help.

Feedback and supporting words wanted

 

[Jemeralddragoon]

Following this thread; I've also had the same observations - my first two stories got published pretty quickly. They were chapter 3 and 4 in myy mind, although I hadn't really organized them nunerically yet, I wanted to use the series function for that. But now chapter 1 and 2 are forever stuck it seems. They have had about two weeks of pending time each, then I put them back in draft and had a volunteer editor go over them (thanks @Todger65!), and then put chapter 1 with changes back on submitted and pending, where it's been for 3 days (cumulative 17 days then). Maybe I'm just out of tune with expectations because of the speed of chapter 3 and 4 submission.

Also the real reason I worry about this is because chapter 3 seems so cold without the buildup from 1 and 2 - it's almost unbearable to see readers not get that buildup now. Help.

Feedback and supporting words wanted

I completely understand where you are coming from. That's exactly why I was so worried about my stories taking longer than usual to get published. They finally did about a week ago. I guess it really is just a waiting game but it caused alot of anxiety.

 

[NordicNight]

I completely understand where you are coming from. That's exactly why I was so worried about my stories taking longer than usual to get published. They finally did about a week ago. I guess it really is just a waiting game but it caused alot of anxiety.

But seemed like it turned out as a great story nonetheless! The Bryce and Cee one I mean

 

[Jemeralddragoon]

But seemed like it turned out as a great story nonetheless! The Bryce and Cee one I mean

It did. That was the first story I posted. The one that was stuck in limbo was Family Fun.

 

[NordicNight]

Yeah I should have just started with one story, and then go chronologically. Kinda like you. But I was parallel working on what I intended to be four sequential chapters and then just by seemingly random chance chapter 3 and then soon after 4 got published. Problem was just that chapter 3 seemed completely out of context, very demeaning actually, without the context from previous chapters.

Oh well, we live we learn. Thanks for sharing thoughts and experiences here.